Humidifier



June 5, 1945. H, E,'WOOLERY 2,377,836

HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l ru gmim awe/M9011 Homes E. Woouezv Patented June 5, 1945 uru'rsn STATES PATENT OFFlCE Application September 14, 1942, Serial No. 458,202

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in radiators for heating purposes .andmore particularly to a novel form of radiator and cooperating humidifying and aircirculating means.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple and very ellective type of radiator in which the heat transfer means takes the form of a multiplicity of comparatively small and thin walled tubes having header connections at their ends for the reception and discharge of the circulating heating fluid, such as hot water, and so arranged as to provide a great area of exposed surface, for radiating the heat to the atmosphere, in a small and compact unit. Another and important object is to provide a radiator unit of this nature in which the tubes are 50- arranged and shaped as to not only provide the popular and desirable low, elongated and substantially rectangular shape for the unit as a whole, but to also form a centrally located recess or chamber admirably adapted to receive and contain a humidifying unit, and to place such unit in a po-. sition best adapted to its functions of humidifying, cleaning and circulating the air through the radiator. Still another object is to provide an improved'humidifying and circulating unit in a compact, simple and practical form well adapted to use in connection with my improved radiator. Y

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the radiator and humidifying unit, the base, cover and radiator header members being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a view taken substantially along the line 2-4 in Fig. 1 showing a part of the device in plan and a part in horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of acentral portion of the radiator showing the humidifying unit in vertical, diametrical section.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view taken the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawings, my improved radiator comprises a multiplicity of tubes or pipes, designated generally at In, all of inverted U-shape with their downwardly disposed ends arranged to enter headers or chambers I I and I2 which are disposed in spaced relation. Pipes l3 are connected to said headers ii and I2, and to the circulating heating system in such manner that the heated fluid. such as hot water or steam, will pass continuously through the tubes. The tubes themselves are preferably thin walled to provide for greatest possible heat transfer and radiation.

The tubes l each comprises a horizontal portion l4 and two upright portions or legs l5 and along vary in length, the shortest tubes beingarranged in a row near inner or adjacent edges ofthe headers ll and while the progressively longer tubes are arranged in similar rows over and outside of the smaller ones.- A plurality of rows of tubes are thus set up "with the individualtubes of each row in alignment with the corresponding tubes of the next, so that alltubes take positions in rank and file such as to provide for maximum circulation of the air and for convenience in cleaning and dusting the tubes. Preferably the horizontal portions ll of the tubes are closely spaced in the vertical plane as seen in Fig, 1 in order to reduce the height of the radiator and to provide a long and low shape for the completed unit, but of course the shape and configuration will to some extent depend upon the proportions of the tubes as well. In any event'it is evident that this arrangement of the tubes provides a maximum of space, but of equal importance isthe fact that the inverted ll-shape of the nested tubes provides within the innermost row or series an open chamber or space, designated generally at l6 and opening from side to side of the unit. The purpose of this opening will presently appear.

The headers II and I 2 andinany suitableform of base. structure such as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein a ledge I! is provided to engage the headers and legs l8 lift the unit off the fioor I 9 toprovide for free air circulation. A cover may also be provided and may be either of the over-all, perforated type as indicated ,at or of the simpler, seat cover kind rested upon the tubes. The headers H and I2 are preferably stamped in complementary dish-like sections 2| and 22 Welded together along their rims at 23, and the ends of the tubes may be welded into upper sections as designated at24.

Arranged in the space or chamber 16 is my improved air circulator and humidifier which comprises a small electric motor 25 disposed with its drive shaft axis vertical and with a fan 26 mounted upon the upper end, beneath the innermost or lowermost horizontal tube portions It. i This motor may be supportedin. this position in any suitable manner such as by means of a hanger designated generally at 21 made up of two sections 28 and 29 clamped by screws 30 around the motor and having similarly arranged clamp portions 3| andscrews 32 to secure the hanger to the upright leg portions l5 of a center tube. The motor has drive-shaft extensions at both upper and lower, ends with the upper one 33 of course carrying the fanZB, whileto the lower shaft 34 is secured a hub 35 from which are radially extended aseries of spokes 36. These spokes are attached to inner sides of a centrifugal spray cup 31 to not only support the same coaxially may be supported upon with the motor but to rotate it along with the fan. The cup 31 has a rounded bottom portion 38 terminating in a small tubular depending pick-up nipple or extension 39 through which extends a passageway 40. The top or upper rim 4| of the cup is open and the sides 42 preferably flare or slope outwardly theretoward as clearly shown. This upper edge of the cup is disposed well beneath the upper end of the motor and below the hanger 21.

A water pan 43 is arranged beneath the motor and cup structure above described and may be supported in proper position by means of the cross member 44 in the base structure as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. This pan is filled to a predetermined level with water from any suitable source and as one practical arrangement of such water supply I show a valve 45 secured to the pan side 46 witha pipe connection 41 for receiving the water from the usual city water system. A ring shaped float 48 is placed in the pan and through a pivoted lever 49 actuates the valve 45 to open the same as the water level falls and to close off the supply when the level is restored. Valves of this nature are of course well known. The pan is so disposed that the nipple 39 of the cup 31 will dip into the water in the pan, the ring shape of the float providing an open space for this purpose as clearly evident in Fig. 3.

Surrounding the cup31 in spaced relation is a substantially cylindrical wick member 50 having a generally upright and cylindrical wall portion and which at its open upper end is secured to and around a ring 51 carried by hanger'Z'L said ring having a groove 52 in its outer peripheral margin into which the wick is pressed and constricted by an exteriorly arranged retaining ring or wire 53. The likewise open lower end of the wick member is constricted and turned inwardly and angularly as at 54 to rest upon an inwardly sloping drip band or ring 55 which is supported in the open upper end of pan 43 by means of ribs or spokes 56 secured to the side 46 thereof. The drip band 55 is smaller than the pan itself and as clearly evident is so spaced therefrom that it will permit the upward passage of air along both inner and outer sides of, the wick member 50. In operation the fan 26 will, of course, draw air from the floor and discharge it upwardly and outwardly through the spaces between the tubes l0 thus not only circulating the air but facilitating the heat transfer and radiation taking place in the tubes. At the same time the rapid rotation of the cup 31 will cause water to be drawn upwardly from the pan into the cup wherein, by a combination of capillary action and centrifugal force the water will creep up the inside surface of the cup until it is delivered therefrom over the rim 4| in a radially directed spray against the upper end of the wick member 50. The wick member, which of course extends above the cup and is made of the usual wicking material is thus kept moist at all times and the air drawn upwardly by the fan will fiow over and along both inner and outer sides of the wick to become moistened and humidified thereby. The process is continuous so long as the motor operates and it is evident that by the location of the air moving and humidifying unit centrally of the radiator the maximum effect may be had on the humidified air by the heat transfer action in the radiator tubes.

Any excess of moisture in the wick member 50 ing by the circulation of a cooled fluid in the tubes.

The closely spaced arrangement of the horizontal portions l4 of the tubes as described concentrates the tubes surfaces in a comparatively small area immediately above the fan 26 so that the major part of the air moved upwardly by the fan will fiow over and around a large surface area of the tubes to thus secure maximum radiation from the unit,

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A humidifying device of the character described comprising a substantially cylindrical wick member, a motor arranged within the wick member, a fan connected to the motor and arranged over the upper end of the wick member, a centrifugal spray cup supported and actuated by the motor and arranged between the motor and wick member, and a pan supported below the cup for supplying a liquid thereto.

2. A humidifying device of the character described comprising a substantially cylindrical wick member, a motor arranged within the wick member, a fan connected to the motor and arranged over the upper end of the wick member, a centrifugal spray cup supported and actuated by the motor and arranged between the motor and wick member, means for supplying a liquid to the spray cup, a support member for the motor extending outwardly therefrom, and the upper end of the wick member being supportably connected to said support member.

3. A humidifying device of the character described comprising a substantially cylindrical wick member having open upper and lower ends, a motor positioned within the wick member, a fan operatively connected to the motor and disposed above the upper end of the wick member, a spray device supported and actuated by the motor and arranged to operate between the motor and wick member, means for supplying a liquid to the spray device whereby the liquid will be sprayed by said device onto the wick memher, and means for supporting the wick member and motor.

4. A humidifying device comprising a wick member having a generally cylindrical and substantially upright wall portion and open upper and lower ends, a motor positioned within the wall portion of said wick member, a fan operated by the motor and positioned above the upper end of the wick member to draw air upwardly through the open lower end thereof along both inner and outer surfaces of said wall portion, means for moistening the wick member, and means supporting the wick member with the lower end free for the passage of air upwardly and inwardly under influence of the fan.

HORACE E. WOOLERY. 

